Instafit: Social Media and Fitness Intertwined

With the rise of social media creating an entirely new medium for marketing - many individuals are choosing to share their passion through their profiles - including those in the fitness world.

It is simple to recognize the impact social media has on larger companies, such as Nike, Reebok, or Adidas in regards to advertising; yet many people do not understand the enormity of its creation in promoting smaller companies and individuals trying to not only sell a product or service, but simply spread awareness for a cause.

There are many individuals who spread fitness as their cause, and social media has played an incredible role in the development of their careers as well as their brand.

As in everything, some excel at their craft while others are simply stuck without much exposure, regardless of the quality of their work. Here are some fitness gurus who have seen success with their individual fitness brand with the help of social media’s promotion.

Joe Wicks (Instagram - @thebodycoach)

Often referred to as his alter-ego, “The Body Coach,” Wicks is thriving proof that social media has the ability to promote a cause that started in such a central location - the mind of a single individual - to the entire world. He has built and sustained a fitness empire across multiple platforms.

Living in the United Kingdom, social media has allowed him an outlet to stretch his brand across the globe. Wicks is constantly sharing his personal meal plans , workout routines, and total fat-loss programs to his 1.9 million Instagram followers. He bases his meal plans off of 15-minute recipes (“lean-in 15”), proving a quick and efficient way to work to improve the health of his followers.

His workouts are based on High Intensity Interval Training concepts, otherwise known as HIIT, shared through Instagram videos that he is able to keep engaging and concise in order to appeal to massive amounts of people. According to Forbes, Wicks spends “every waking hour” working on and promoting his brand.

Gunnar Moldrik (Instagram - @swoledriks_fitness)

Moldrik has created his brand from scratch and without much help, outside of the use of social media’s platform. Only a sophomore at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, he has not only found the time to create and promote his brand, Swoledrik’s Fitness, but he has also generated a revenue from it.

Moldrik has put together a unique “Healthlife 6-Week Program,” in which he has concocted a series of workouts in conjunction with meal plans, guaranteed to provide insane results. As the sole-proprietor, he is responsible for the production of his workouts and meal-plans, managing his social media accounts, including his Instagram, which has already recorded over 650 followers in a few short months of promotion, and website, as well as providing clients with personal, one-on-one consultation as needed.

Moldrik is also a registered distributor for AdvoCare, a company dedicated to selling fitness and nutritional products. He often posts his clients’ transformation pictures upon completion of his 6-week program, further spreading his brand.

Hunter Hardesty, following fulfillment of the 6-week program, had nothing but praise for the program: “When I [worked out] in the morning, it really gave me a lot of energy that lasted throughout the day, and at the end of only a few weeks I noticed a large increase in the [amount of] weight I was able to lift.”

Kayla Itsines (Instagram - @kayla_itsines)

One of the most recognized social media figures in fitness, Itsines has acquired 7.8 million followers on Instagram, where she began the promotion of her brand.

Despite being 25 years old, Itsines created a meal-planning and workout app, “Sweat With Kayla,” which generated $17 million in revenue in 2016 alone, according to App Annie. Much like Wicks, she has been able to promote a brand in the United States through social media, despite being from Australia.

She often posts transformation pictures of clients, showing immense change from the beginning of her program through the end. As a result of her prominence on social media, Itsines has been able to further her brand promotion into live seminars and shows in which she often sells out crowds, informing her audience on ways to stay healthy and fit through meal-plans and custom workouts.